Van  Cleef 
Finn  in  America 


THE  LIBRARY 


[HE  UNIVERSITY 


OF  CAL  [FORNIA 


LOS  ANGELES 


FINN  IN 


"  The  fairest  land  is  the  northern 

land, 
Where  the  forest  usurps  the 

meadow. 


eugeno  Uan  Gloef 


T/ie 

flNN  IN 


•*/  THE 

FINN  IN  AMERICA 


EUGENE    VAN    CLEEF 


REPRODUCED     BY     PERMISSION 
OF 

THE  AMERICAN  GEOGRAPHICAL  SOCIETY  OF  NEW   YORK 

PUBLISHED   BY 
THE   FINNISH  DAILY  PUBLISHING  Co. 

DULUTH,   MINNESOTA 


1918 


THE 

FINN  IN  AMERICA 


The  fairest  land  is  the  northern  land, 

Where  the  forest  usurps  the  meadow. 

****** 

The  fairest  land  is  the  forest  land 
Which  dreams  in  the  silence  eoer. 


At  this  time  it  is  perhaps  of  special  interest  to  know  the  distribution 
of  Finns  in  the. United  States,  the  extent  of  the  Finnish  "invasion"  into 
northeastern  Minnesota,  the  results  attained  by  the  Finn  in  his  native 
land  and  in  his  new  environment,  and  the  possibilities  of  the  Finn  as  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States. 

Distribution  of  the  Finns  in  the  United  States 

Although  Finns  dwell  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  their  numbers  are 
essentially  negligible  in  all  but  the  states  of  the  northern  half  of  the  country. 
Hence,  in  the  map  (Fig.  1)  showing  the  states  where  500  or  more  reside, 
the  southern  states  remain  without  a  dot.  The  total  number  of  Finns  in 
the  United  States,  including  native  and  foreign  born,  was  in  1910,  211,026.! 
The  estimate  for  1917  places  their  number  at  close  to  300,000. 

Michigan  and  Minnesota  stand  out  preeminently  as  "Finnish"  states. 
Massachusetts  ranks  next,  the  cotton  and  woolen  mills  oddly  enough 
retaining  a  sort  of  magnetic  hold  upon  the  Finns,  especially  the  women. 
Fitchburg  and  Worcester  are  the  principal  points  of  concentration.  New 
York  State  ranks  relatively  high  because  of  the  large  number  of  Finns  in 
New  York  City.  The  clothing  industry  in  the  country's  metropolis  induces 
many  of  the  Finns  there  to  become  permanent  residents. 

The  western  states,  Montana,  Oregon,  Washington,  and  California, 
present  a  sort  of  anomaly  in  the  problem.  A  more  detailed  consideration 
will  be  given  later,  but  here  it  may  be  pointed  out  that  the  rise  of  the 
lumber  industry  in  these  states,  coupled  with  its  disappearance  in  the 
Great  Lakes  region,  has  been  a  potent  factor  in  the  western  migration  of 

Acknowledgment  is  made  to  Mr.  L.  B.  Arnold,  Land  Commissioner,  of  the  Duluth  and  Iron  Range 
R.R.,  for  his  many  courtesies  which  have  made  possible  this  investigation;  to  the  Finnish  people  of 
Duluth  and  vicinity  who  have  co-operated  so  generously;  and  especially  to  Mr.  O.  J.  Larson  of  Duluth 
who  has  made  possible  the  publication  of  this  entire  manuscript. 

1  U.  S.  Census,  1910.    Unless  otherwise  stated,  all  figures  are  based  on  this  census. 


14O699O 


2  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

many  Finns.  The  fisheries  in  the  Puget  Sound  District  and  farming  in 
all  the  area  have  had  a  secondary  influence.  The  greater  number  of  Finns 
in  California  are  concentrated  in  San  Francisco. 

The  southern  states  show  a  notable  absence  of  Finns.  For  example. 
South  Carolina  has  only  38,  Florida  137,  Georgia  65,  Louisiana  186,  Texas 
218,  Arkansas  30,  and  Kentucky  32. 

Absolute  numbers,  if  isolated,  may  exaggerate  their  significance;  hence 
Figure  2  is  introduced  to  show  the  relative  number  of  Finns  in  each  state 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  FINNS 

NATIVE  AND  FOREIGN  BORN 

1910 

Each  dot  represents  500  Finns 


FIG.  1— Cartogram  showing  distribution  of  Finns,  native  and  foreign  born,  by  States,  1910.  The  absence 
of  Finns  in  the  south  is  in  striking  contrast  with  the  density  in  the  north.    Scale  1:41,000,000. 

as  compared  with  the  total  foreign  population.  Again  the  southern  states 
are  conspicuous  by  their  lack  of  a  considerable  Finnish  population.  All 
the  western  states  would  seem  to  have  fairly  numerous  colonies ;  but  when 
one  considers  their  small  total  foreign  population  compared  with  that  of 
the  central  and  eastern  states  the  seeming  discrepancy  disappears.  For 
example  Wyoming,  which  shows  3.6  per  cent  of  its  total  foreign  population 
to  be  Finns,  has  a  total  foreign  population  of  only  59,622,  of  whom  2,154 
are  Finns;  whereas  Ohio,  which  shows  only  0.5  per  cent  to  be  Finns,  has  a 
total  foreign  population  of  1,621,638,  of  whom  7,301  are  Finns.  Probably 
the  most  impressive  figure  on  this  map  is  the  very  low  percentage  of  Finns 
everywhere,  it  being  nowhere  as  high  as  4  per  cent. 

URBAN  vs.  RURAL  POPULATION 

More  than  half  (54.5  per  cent)  of  the  total  population  of  Finns  live  in 
the  rural2  districts  of  the  United  States.     This  is  rather  notable,  for  only 

2  By  "  rural  "  is  meant  communities  of  less  than  2,500  inhabitants. 


THE    FIXX    IX    AMERICA 


immigrants  from  Norway,  Denmark,  Luxemburg,  and  Mexico  show  a 
similar  tendency.  The  general  inclination  for  foreigners  is  to  concentrate 
in  urban  centers.  Less  than  one-third  of  all  "foreign  white  stock"  (31.8 
per  cent)  is  located  in  the  rural  districts. 

Moreover  the  proportion  of  Finns  living  under  essentially  rural  condi- 
tions is  higher  than  the  figures  show.  Fresh  immigrants  gravitate  almost 
immediately  towards  the  mines  and  camps.  In  both  instances  they  head- 
quarter largely  in  towns  of  2,500  or  more  and  hence  are  enumerated  as 


PROPORTION  OF  FINNS 

IN  TOTAL  OF  FOREIGN  WHITE  STOCK 

1910 

I        I      -  0.5% 

17^x10.5-1% 

EO]   |   -  3%  Scale  of  mil 

TTVl  3  -  4%      190     o      190    zoo    ay 


FIG.  2— Cartogram  showing  percentage  of  Finns  among  the  total  foreign-born  white  stock,  by  States, 
1910.  Relatively  as  well  as  absolutely  the  south  shows  lack  of  attraction  for  Finns.  Scale  1 : 41,000.000. 

those  residing  in  urban  communities.  Otherwise,  if  the  census  were  taken 
in  their  case  on  the  basis  of  occupation,  the  per  cents  would  favor  the 
rural  districts.  The  very  strong  attraction  of  the  out-door  life  is  exhibited 
also  in  the  case  of  those  who  are  native-born  but  of  foreign  or  mixed 
parentage,  among  whom  the  proportion  in  the  rural  area  reaches  the  high 
figure  of  61.7  per  cent.  The  Finns,  therefore,  may  be  classified  as  distinctly 
a  rural  people. 

In  26  states  of  the  Union  over  50  per  cent  of  the  Finns  live  in  the  rural 
districts.  In  such  states  as  Illinois  and  New  York,  large  manufacturing 
centers  attract  the  relatively  small  number  who  happen  to  reside  there, 
but  these  constantly  drift  toward  the  land.  Interviews  with  many  Finns 
who  have  passed  through  the  several  stages  before  reaching  the  farm, 
reveal  the  fact  that  the  congested  cities  retain  the  Finn  a  very  short  time. 
As  soon  as  he  saves  enough  money  to  purchase  a  small  acreage  or  to  claim 
a  homestead  he  establishes  communion  with  nature  and  leads  a  life  more 
attractive  and  more  satisfying  to  his  natural  and  seemingly  instinctive 
desire  to  live  in  the  open. 


4  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

LAKE  SUPERIOR  DISTRICT 

\  The  vicinity  of  Lake  Superior  seems  to  constitute  the  haven  of  refuge 
for  the  Finns.  Their  density  is  greater  here  than  in  any  other  equal  area 
in  the  country.3  Figure  3  represents  the  distribution  about  Lake  Superior, 
and  at  the  same  time  brings  to  light  the  apparent  attraction  of  the  iron 
and  copper  mines.  The  region  is  also  forested  and  accordingly  attracts 
the  lumberjack.  Northeastern  Minnesota  presents  conditions  typical  of 
'  practically  the  entire  Lake  Superior  district.  For  this  reason,  it  was 
chosen  as  the  scene  of  the  present  investigation.  St.  Louis  County  (see 
Fig.  3),  in  Northeastern  Minnesota,  has  been  the  principal  field  for  inten- 
sive study.  St.  Louis  County  has  an  area  of  6,503  square  miles.  Its  total 
population  is  163,274,  of  whom  16,381,*  or  about  10  per  cent,  are  Finns. 
The  Finns  are  engaged  in  iron  ore  mining,  lumbering,  and  agriculture. 
They  number  about  10  per  cent5  of  the  total  of  foreigners  in  the  mines. 
The  number  of  men  of  all  nationalities  employed  in  the  mines  in  1917  was 
14,479.6 

The  number  engaged  in  lumbering  fluctuates,  as  most  of  the  Finns  in 
this  industry  are  employed  only  in  winter  for  logging  operations  in  the 
woods.  Hence  employment  is  generally  temporary,  and  these  so-called 
lumberjacks  are  oftentimes  the  miners  and  farmers  of  the  summer  season. 
A  few  work  in  the  lumber  mills  the  entire  year. 

Agricultural  pursuits  attract  most  of  the  remaining  Finns.  Nearly  60 
per  cent  (or  about  1,800)  of  the  farmers  of  the  county  are  Finns.  This 
number  must  be  multiplied  by  at  least  3  to  obtain  the  total  number  of 
Finns  on  the  land,  for  the  families  are  large.  Others  are  engaged  in 
miscellaneous  occupations  in  the  cities.  Duluth,  the  largest  city  of  the 
county,  with  a  population  of  78,466  in  1910,  was  credited  with  2,772  Finns. 

THE  FINNS  IN  THE  MINES 

The  absence  of  large  mineral  deposits  in  Finland  means  that  few  of  the 
natives  are  miners.  Emigration  is  mainly  from  the  northerly  parts  of 
Finland7  where  the  population  is  scattered,  and  where  agriculture,  prac- 
tically the  only  pursuit,  is  carried  on  under  severest  handicaps. 

Singularly  enough,  the  first  Finns  who  settled  in  the  Lake  Superior 

district   became   miners.      They   left   their   homes   because   of   depressing 

I    economic  conditions  and  in  hope  of  a  better  future  in  America.     The  gold 

rush  of  '49  in  California  attracted  a  few,  but  none  of  them  profited.     A 

little  later,  between  1850  and  1860,   about  250  Finns  from  the  copper 

3  There  is  a  similar  distribution  in  Canada.    The  census  of  1911  gives  4,301  Finns  (about  28  per  cent  of 
the  total  in  Canada)  in  the  Thunder  Bay-Rainy  River  district  at  the  western  end  of  Lake  Superior.    Other 
large  groups  are  found  elsewhere  in  the  Lake  region. 

4  Census  of  1910;  the  estimate  for  1917  places  the  number  at  from  20,000  to  25,000. 

5  Estimate  of  the  Oliver  Iron  Mining  Company.    Accurate  records  of  nationalities  are  not  kept. 

6  Report  of  W.  H.  Harvey,  County  Mine  Inspector,  October,  1917. 

"'  Ninety  per  cent  of  those  interviewed  came  from  northern  Finland,  or,  if  native-born,  their  parents 
came  from  those  parts. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMEEICA 


mines  of  Norway  and  Sweden  arrived  at  Calumet,  Michigan,  to  help  in  the 
newly  opened  copper  mines.8  This  seems  to  be  the  only  instance  of  the 
importation  of  Finns  by  an  industrial  company. 

After  a  short  acquaintance  with  the  new  land  these  men  wrote  home  to 
friends  and  relatives,  sometimes  sending  transportation  tickets,  encourag- 
ing them  to  come  to  this  country,  where  tyranny  was  unknown  and  inde- 
pendence was  a  possibility.  The  subsequent  years,  up  to  the  present,  have 
witnessed  a  steady  though  not  large  inflow  of  their  countrymen.  The 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  FINNS 
IN  THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  REGION 

One  dot  represents  IOO  Finns 


^ron  ore  dcP°s'ts 
Copper  deposits 


FIG.  3— Cartogram  showing  distribution  of  Finns  in  the  Lake  Superior  Region.  This  is  by  far  the 
most  attractive  region  for  the  Finn  in  America.  Scale  1:9,500,000. 

new  arrivals  could  not  speak  English  and  had  no  money.  The  laud  was 
still  densely  wooded,  and  the  winters  were  long.  Mining  was  the  only 
occupation  open.  In  the  years  since  the  first  settlements  among  the  mines 
of  Michigan,  successive  Finnish  immigrants  have  entered  the  iron  mines 
of  both  northern  Michigan  and  northeastern  Minnesota.  Many  who  are 
prominent  citizens  in  these  parts  today  found  their  opportunity  there. 

THEIR  THRIFT,  EFFICIENCY,  AND  ENDURANCE 

But  the  Finn  is  not  a  miner  by  nature.  He  is  a  man  of  the  soil.  After 
working  in  the  mines  a  few  years — the  average  is  from  two  to  five — he 
uses  his  savings  for  the  purchase  of  some  land  or  for  taking  up  a  home- 
stead. In  some  instances,  however,  after  leaving  the  mines  as  a  place  of 
regular  employment,  he  may  return  temporarily  when  in  need  of  money. 
He  is  credited  with  being  the  most  thrifty  of  all  nationalities  represented 
in  the  mines  and  lumber  camps. 

8  According  to  C.  H.  Salminen,  manager  of  Finnish  Daily  Seivs,  Duluth,  and  others. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMEKICA  7 

In  efficiency  in  the  mines  the  Finns  rank  close  to  the  top.  They  make 
good  timbermen  in  the  underground  mines,  for  they  are  reputed  "clever 
and  ingenious  with  axe  and  log."  Herein  one  may  see  the  result  of  their 
many  centuries  of  training  in  the  forests  of  their  native  land.  Their  strug- 
gle with  nature  has  also  developed  much  resourcefulness.  The  younger 
Finns  coming  to  this  country  today  show  a  considerable  proficiency  along 
mechanical  lines.  Some  of  them  are  employed  in  handling  drills  and  other 
machinery  requiring  dexterity. 

The  physical  strength  of  the  Finn  contributes  to  his  ability  to  endure 
the  strains  incident  to  mining.  The  work  is  hard,  and  the  winter  long  and 
rigorous.  Where  the  open  pit  process  is  used,  employment  does  not  last 
throughout  the  year.  Hence  many  workers  must  find  something  else  to 
engage  them  during  the  closed  season.  The  relative  isolation  of  the  region 
makes  travel  to  other  industrial  centers  rather  expensive.  Therefore 
adjustment  is  made  to  practically  the  only  alternative,  logging.  Hundreds 
of  Finns  go  to  the  woods  to  labor  in  the  deep  snow  and  in  temperatures 
ranging  from  — 15°  to  — 30°  F.  Their  life  is  camp  life,  but  not  after  their 
own  choosing.  It  oftentimes  is  next  to  intolerable.  Yet  doggedness,  a 
sense  of  responsibility,  unusual  powers  of  endurance,  enable  them  to  remain 
throughout  the  season.  They  have  had  vigorous  training  in  the  "land  of 
a  thousand  lakes"  and  the  land  of  as  many  hardships. 

The  Finn  in  Agriculture 
CONDITION  OF  THE  LAND 

The  Finn  has  acquired  much  of  his  land  in  northeastern  Minnesota  as 
a  homesteader,  although  recently  he  has  become  an  active  purchaser  in  the 
open  market.  His  holding  ranges  from  40  to  160  acres.  If  he  is  a  home- 
steader he  always  possesses  the  latter  amount.  For  the  most  part  his  land 
is  heavily  timbered  with  tall  thin  spruce  and  tamarack  and  the  birch  with 
its  accompanying  underbrush.  Occasionally  some  jack  pine  is  scattered 
about.  More  often  than  not,  the  desirable  timber  has  been  removed  by 
lumber  companies  before  the  land  is  placed  on  sale,  only  the  stumps 
remaining ;  or,  if  virgin  timber  be  available,  it  is  not  in  abundance. 

The  spruce  and  tamarack  land  is  swampy.  It  is  highland  swamp  rang- 
ing from  1,200  to  2,000  feet  above  sea  level  and  from  600  to  1,400  feet  above 
Lake  Superior.  The  several  moderately  sized  streams  of  fair  gradient 
flowing  either  across  the  land  or  near  it  (Fig.  9)  make  drainage  relatively 
easy  after  a  clearing  has  been  effected.  Oftentimes  a  few  acres,  sometimes 
as  much  as  one-half  of  a  forty-acre  tract,  consist  of  swampy  land  known  as 
"muskeg."  The  muskeg,  which  varies  in  depth  from  3  to  21  feet,  is  a 
sort  of  transition  swamp  verging  on  the  peat  stage.  This  land  corresponds 
almost  everywhere  to  the  Hochmoor  of  Germany,  Denmark,  and  Finland. 
In  addition  to  muskeg  there  may  be  a  very  generous  distribution  of  glacial 


8  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

boulders  of  large  size  (Figs.  4  and  10),  especially  upon  the  higher,  better 
drained  land  most  desirable  for  cultivation. 

HUMBLE  BEGINNINGS 

The  Finn  builds  a  little  single-room  or  two-room  tar-papered  shack  (Fig. 
5)  near  an  edge  of  his  land  where  the  drainage  is  good.  He  will  clear 
about  an  acre  the  first  summer.  When  winter  interrupts  his  work  he  may 
go  to  the  woods  as  a  lumberjack  to  earn  a  little  ready  money.  The  next 
spring  he  returns  to  his  farm  to  continue  improvements.  Should  he  run 
short  of  funds  before  the  following  winter  he  may  work  for  a  few  weeks 
as  a  common  laborer  on  county  or  town  roads.  It  has  been  said  that  the 
road-building  activity  of  the  counties  and  towns  in  northeastern  Minnesota 
has  been  the  salvation  of  the  farmer,  not  merely  because  it  gives  him  an 
improved  means  of  communication,  but  because  it  gives  him  employment 
and  funds. 

As  soon  as  a  few  hundred  square  feet  are  cleared,  potatoes  and  rutabagas 
are  planted.  A  cow  barn  and  cow  follow.  "Where  there's  a  Finn  there's 
a  cow"  is  almost  axiomatic.  Another  year  witnesses  the  addition  of  a  few 
chickens.  Garden,  cow,  and  poultry  now  assure  the  pioneer 's  food  supply : 
he  is  fairly  on  the  road  to  independence. 

CONSTRUCTION  OF  BUILDINGS 

In  the  evolution  of  the  farm  the  construction  of  buildings  plays  an 
important  part.  One  may  very  safely  identify  a  Finnish  farm  from  a 
distance  by  its  number  of  buildings  (Fig.  4).  Among  them  may  be 
counted  the  owner's  first  shack,  his  later  log  cabin,  his  recent  modern 
dwelling  (Fig.  7),  jiis  never- forgotten  bathhouse,  a  cow  barn,  perhaps  the 
old  one  and  the  new  one  with  its  glacial-boulder  foundation,  a  horse  barn, 
a  root  cellar,  several  hay  barns  scattered  over  the  fields,  a  tool  house,  a 
woodshed,  and  other  miscellaneous  special  buildings. 

The  hay  barn  alone  is  a  means  of  identifying  a  Finnish  farm  (Fig.  6). 
It  is  always  built  of  logs  spaced  several  inches  apart.  The  flooring  is  raised 
from  the  ground  a  foot  or  two  and  is  likewise  made  of  spaced  logging. 
Such  construction  allows  the  air  to  circulate  freely  through  the  hay,  keep- 
ing it  dry  and  helping  to  season  it.  The  sides  of  the  barn  slope  inward 
toward  the  floor.  This  characteristic  is  determinative.  In  only  a  few 
isolated  cases  has  a  Finn  erected  a  modern  scientific  combination  dairy 
and  hay  barn. 

SLOW  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  LAND 

The  cutting  of  timber,  the  grubbing  of  underbrush  and  roots,  the  dyna- 
miting of  stumps,  the  piling  up  of  the  boulders  gathered  from  all  parts  of 
the  land,  and  the  draining  of  the  wet  places  all  follow  in  succession.  The 
work  is  slow,  for  the  Finn  never  hurries.  Deliberate  and  determined,  he  is 


FIG.  6. 

Fio.  5— The  first  home  of  the  pioneer  farmer,  a  two-room  tar-papered  shack.    The  man  in  the  fore- 
ground is  a  Finn,  but  not  the  tenant  of  this  hut.    Embarass,  Minn. 

FIG.  6— The  hay  barn  with  sides  sloping  inward  toward  the  floor.     It  identifies  a  Finnish  farm. 
Floodwood,  Minn. 

9 


10  THE    FINN    IN    AMEEICA 

seldom  discouraged.  Some  day  his  land  will  be  entirely  cleared  and  beau- 
tifully developed.  The  Finnish  immigrant  makes  an  ideal  pioneer,  a  splen- 
did blazer  of  the  trail;  but  the  speedy  development  of  the  land  awaits 
the  rising  generation.  Whatever  the  length  of  time  that  must  elapse 
before  success  crowns  his  efforts;  the  fact  that  a  Finn  is  developing  the 
land  is  always  reassuring.  To  a  farmer  in  the  corn  belt  these  northern 
lands  must  seem  almost  hopeless;  but  to  the  Finn,  where  there  is  land 
there  is  hope.  His  struggle  through  the  many  generations  has  taught  him 
to  keep  at  the  problem  until  it  is  solved,  if  solution  there  be ;  and  he  is 
thankful  for,  and  appreciative  of  every  little  gain.  When  his  farm  is  well 


FIG.  7— The  old  log  cabin,  and  the  modern  dwelling:  convincing  proof  of  progress.    Floodwood,  Minn. 

along  he  confines  his  efforts  largely  to  such  crops  as  hay,  potatoes,  ruta- 
bagas, and  minor  quantities  of  rye,  oats,  and  barley.  He  possesses  a  number 
of  cows,  inclining  very  strongly  toward  the  development  of  a  dairy  farm. 
Swine  are  conspicuously  absent.  A  few  horses,  and  not  infrequently  an 
automobile,  complete  his  establishment. 

REASONS  FOR  LOCALIZATION  IN  THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  KEGION 
In  view  of  the  many  hardships  with  which  the  settler  in  northeastern 
Minnesota  must  contend,  one  naturally  wonders  why  the  Finns  continue  to 
assemble  here.  Did  the  first  few  who  happened  to  come  to  the  copper  mines  of 
Michigan  so  stimulate  the  successive  immigrant  flow  as  to  give  it  a  momen- 
tum sufficient  to  maintain  itself  to  the  present  day  ?  Could  the  momentum 
of  the  first  influx  have  resulted  in  the  concentration  of  about  150,000  Finns, 
or  three-fourths  of  all  the  Finns  in  the  United  States,  in  the  Lake  Superior 
district?  Why  have  not  the  more  recent  immigrants  settled  in  the  central 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 


11 


states?  Why  have  not  those  who  came  twenty  years  ago  moved  further 
south  after  working  under  such  severe  strains  and  in  the  face  of  possible 
failure  ?  To  determine  whether  the  factors  are  geographic  in  any  degree, 
one  needs  to  consider  the  natural  environment  in  Finland  and  to  compare 
it  with  that  of  northeastern  Minnesota,  and  to  study  the  life  of  the  Finn 
in  Finland,  both  past  and  present. 

Finland  vs.  Northeastern  Minnesota 

The  total  population  of  Finland  in  1910  was  3,115,197.9    Its  area  was 
144,252  square  miles.  The  density  therefore  is  between  21  and  22  per  square 


FIG.  8— A  typical  Finnish  log  cabin  with  windows  which  identify  the  nationality.  The  corners  of  the 
cabin  are  boxed  off  and  the  logs  are  squared,  the  squaring  being  done  after  the  logs  have  been  put  in 
place.  It  represents  a  bit  of  Finnish  mechanical  skill.  Toivola— "the  place  of  hope"— Minn. 

mile,  a  very  low  value  compared  with  that  in  other  countries  of  western 
Europe. 

SURFACE  EESEMBLANCES 

Finland  is  a  vast  region  of  lakes,  rivers,  and  marshes.  Its  very  name 
in  the  Finnish  language,  Suomi,  means  "swamp  land."  Lakes  occupy 
11.73  per  cent,  swamp  and  peat  surfaces  30.8  per  cent  of  the  total  area  of 
the  country.10  These  figures  are  approximations,  for  they  do  not  include 
large  areas  that  are  neither  lake,  swamp,  nor  peat  bog,  yet  are  very  poorly 
drained.  A  map11  of  Finland  showing  the  wet  lands  indicates  that  well 

9 Census  figures:  for  characteristics  of  distribution  see  Atlas  de  Finlande,  1910,  1  vol.  of  maps  and 
2  vols.  of  text,  Societe  de  Geographic  de  Finlande,  Helsingfors,  1911. 

10  "There  are  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  million  lakes  in  Finland."    See  A.  Hettner:  Grundzuge  der 
Landerkunde,  Vol.  1,  Europa,  Leipzig,  1907,  pp.  178-182. 

11  Work  cited  in  footnote  9. 


12  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

over  75  per  cent  of  the  surface  area  may  be  catalogued  under  this  heading. 
The  surface  of  northeastern  Minnesota  is  closely  similar.  In  St.  Louis 
County  5.6  per  cent  of  the  surface  area  is  lake,  and  29  per  cent  is  swamp 
and  peat  land.12 

Finland  has  been  completely  glaciated.  Excepting  for  a  few  small 
exposures  of  igneous  rocks,  the  surface  is  entirely  of  drift  material. 
Among  the  few  outcrops  Pre-Cambrian  rocks  predominate.  Similarities 
with  the  Lake  Superior  region  are  suggested.13  The  Finnish  geologist 
Sederholm  indicates  the  possibility  of  stratigraphical  correlation.  Both 
Finland  and  Minnesota  have  boulder-strewn  surfaces  and  in  their  respec- 
tive localities  present  scenes  that  are  almost  identical.  Prominent  hills 
are  uncommon;  but  the  range  of  altitudes  in  Finland  is  almost  exactly  the 
same  as  that  in  St.  Louis  County.  The  land  rises  from  about  250  feet  close 
to  the  Baltic  Coast,  to  2,000  feet  along  the  Russian  boundary.  In  St.  Louis 
County  the  range  is  from  600  feet  above  sea  level  at  the  shore  of  Lake 
Superior,  to  2,000-2,200  feet  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  county. 

The  streams  crossing  Finland,  like  those  in  northeastern  Minnesota,  are 
relatively  short  but  rapid.  Minnesota  has  no  such  famous  rapids  as  the 
wonderful  Imatra  Fall;  on  the  other  hand,  the  variety  and  frequency  of 
small  rapids  and  falls  are  strikingly  similar  in  the  two  countries. 

CLIMATIC  CORRESPONDENCES 

The  climates  likewise  show  a  close  correspondence,  that  of  Finland 
being  somewhat  less  extreme.  The  coldest  and  warmest  months  in  Finland 
are  February  and  August  respectively,  whereas  those  in  St.  Louis  County 
are  January  and  July.  In  the  former  country  in  January  the  temperature 
ranges  from  6°  F.  in  the  north  to  14°-  21°  F.  in  the  south,  whereas  in  the 
latter  region  the  range  is  from  4°  F.  in  the  north  to  12°  F.  in  the  south. 
In  July  the  range  in  Finland  is  from  56°  F.  in  the  north  to  60°  F.  in  the 
south,  while  in  St.  Louis  County  it  is  from  64°  F.  in  the  north  to  66°  F.  in 
the  south.  There  is  however  a  great  difference  in  latitude  between  the  two 
regions.  Finland  extends  from  60°  N.  to  70°  N. ;  St.  Louis  County  reaches 
from  not  quite  47°  N.  to  48.5°  N.  Finland  tempered  by  the  warm  prevail- 
ing south  westerlies  blowing  from  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia  and  the  Baltic  Sea 
shows  a  very  high  temperature  anomaly — at  least  10°  F.  higher  than  the 
normal  for  the  latitude — the  divergence  being  specially  great  in  winter. 
St.  Louis  County,  in  a  continental  area,  is  modified  by  the  influence  of  a 
considerable  body  of  water  only  along  the  short  Lake  Superior  shore  line. 

The  precipitation  in  Finland  averages  from  12  inches  in  the  north  to 
27  inches  in  the  south ;  in  St.  Louis  County  it  is  much  more  uniform,  aver- 
aging from  27  inches  in  the  north  to  30  inches  in  the  south.  The  amount 

12  Figures  based  on  Leverett  and  Sardeson:    Surface  Formations  and  Agricultural   Conditions  of 
Northeastern  Minnesota,  Minn.  Geol.  Surrey  Bull.  jYo.  IS,  Minneapolis,  1917,  p.  56. 

13  See  the  section  on  Finland  in  Van  Hise  and  Leith :  Pre-Cambrian  Geology  of  North  America,  U.  S. 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  360.  pp.  51-53. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 


13 


of  moisture  falling  as  snow,  ranges  in  Finland  from  30  inches  in  the  extreme 
northern  parts  to  55  inches  in  the  south,  and  in  St.  Louis  County  averages 
from  50  to  55  inches.  The  annual  distribution  of  the  precipitation  may  be 
considered  identical  in 
both  places.  The  dates 
for  the  appearance  and 
disappearance  of  both 
snow  and  ice  are  prac- 
tically the  same.  Feb- 
ruary and  March  are 
the  months  of  maximum 
snowfall.  Frost  may  oc- 
cur in  any  month  of  the 
year  in  the  swamp  areas 
of  both  regions. 

SIMILARITY  OP  FLORA 

With  similar  soils  and 
climates  one  may  look 
for  a  similarity  in  native 
flora.  The  evergreens 
predominate  in  the 
northern  parts,  while  the 
deciduous  trees  are  most 
common  in  the  southern 
portions.  Pines,  spruce, 
tamarack,  mountain  ash, 
birch,  and  aspen  are  the 
best  known  among  the 
many  varieties  of  trees. 
While  the  species  of 
trees  are  not  in  every 
instance  the  same,  their 
effect  upon  the  land- 
scape does  not  differ. 
The  swamp  lands  in 
both  countries  are  alike, 
excepting  for  the  some- 
what more  extensive  low- 
land type  of  swamp  in 
Finland.  Peat  is  com- 
mon to  both  areas.  The 
wild  flowers  are  strik- 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  FINNISH  TOWNS 
IN  ST.  LOUIS  COUNTY 
MINNESOTA 


FIG.  9— Sketch  map  showing  the  distribution  of  towns  essentially 
Finnish  in  population  in  St.  Louis  County.  In  a  few  cases  there  is  a 
fairly  large  number  of  other  nationalities.  Distribution  should  be 
noted  in  reference  to  swamps,  streams  and  lakes  of  which  only  the 
larger  features  are  shown.  Swamps  are  mapped  from  Leverett  and 
lllgly  Similar,  as  witness  Sardeson,  op.  cit.  footnote  12.  Scale  1 : 1,400,000. 


14 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 


the  following  description  of  a  scene  in  Finland  which  will  apply  equally 
well  to  northeastern  Minnesota:  "I  remember  that  meadow  distinctly  .  .  . 
a  mass  of  giant  bluebells,  oxeye  daisies,  pink  phlox,14  yellow  buttercups, 
and  countless  other  varieties  of  flowers  all  growing  pell-mell  in  a  chaos  of 
colors:"15 

AGRICULTURE 

From  80  per  cent  to  90  per  cent  of  the  people  in  all  parts  of  Finland 
are  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  principal  crops  in  descending 
order  of  rank  are  oats,  potatoes,  rye,  and  barley.  Wheat  is  produced  in 
minor  quantities  in  the  southwest.  Corn  is  said  to  be  grown  as  a  decora- 


Fio.  10— This  generous  distribution  of  large-sized  glacial  boulders  is  typical  of  the  region  selected  by 
the  Finnish  farmer.  Near  Chisholm,  Minn. 

tive  plant  in  gardens.  Hay,  mostly  wild,  is  important,  for  it  constitutes 
the  foundation  of  the  dairying  industry.  Truck-garden  products  are  grown 
for  immediate  family  use.  All  of  these  crops  are  grown  in  northeastern 
Minnesota.  Excepting  hay,  they  are  not  grown  so  largely,  but  that  is  only 
because  of  the  relative  newness  of  the  region. 

In  northern  Finland  the  number  of  cattle  is  500-1,000  per  1,000  inhabi- 
tants ;  in  southern  Finland  the  number  is  not  so  large,  but  is  still  important. 
Swine  are  notably  few,  especially  in  the  north  where  their  density  is  0-10 
per  1,000  inhabitants. 

With  respect  to  live  stock  Minnesota  again  resembles  Finland.  North- 
eastern Minnesota  is  developing  rapidly  into  a  dairy  country.  Swine  are 
kept  in  decidedly  larger  numbers  by  the  Finns  in  America  than  by  those 
in  Finland.  Yet  it  may  be  noted  that  the  Finns  in  St.  Louis  County  keep 
fewer  swine  than  do  the  farmers  of  other  nationalities.  This  evidently  is 
a  reflection  of  conditions  in  their  native  land. 

*4  This  name  may  apply  to  the  plant  known  as  fireweed,  very  common  and  attractive  in  northeastern 
Minnesota. 

i5  Paul  Waineman:  A  Summer  Tour  in  Finland,  New  York,  1908. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 


15 


INDUSTRIES  AND  THE  CO-OPERATIVE  PLAN 

The  variety  of  important  industries  in  Finland  is  very  small,  as  might 
well  be  expected  in  a  region  where  raw  materials  are  so  limited  and  where 
agriculture  offers  practically  the  only  visible  means  of  gaining  a  livelihood. 
Lumbering  takes  first  rank.  Saw-mills  are  very  numerous,  especially  in 
the  coastal  districts.  Paper  making  ranks  second.  Beyond  these  two  indus- 
tries it  is  not  possible  to  rank  any  of  consequence  as  yet.  St.  Louis  County 
differs  only  in  having  iron  ore  in  tremendous  quantities  and  in  the  conse- 
quent development  of  the  mining  industry. 

The  Finns  have  much  faith  in  co-operative  establishments  for  the 
conduct  of  their  affairs,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  numerous  co-operative 


FIG.  11— The  Finn  places  his  grain  and  hay  crops  on  driers,  a  custom  brought  from  home.    This  is  an 
oat  crop  at  Palo,  Minn. 

creameries,  co-operative  general  merchandise  and  grocery  stores,  co-opera- 
tive savings  banks,  and  other  co-operative  institutions.  In  1913  there  were 
2,167  co-operative  societies  in  Finland  with  a  total  membership16  of  196,000. 
Into  northeastern  Minnesota  co-operative  institutions  are  rapidly  finding 
their  way.  While  all  varieties  are  not  yet  represented  there  they  may  be 
found  in  the  Lake  Superior  region  as  a  whole.  In  addition  the  co-operative 
hotel  has  grown  to  be  a  significant  institution. 


The  Finns  in  Finland 

In  order  that  the  Finns  in  America  may  be  fully  and  properly  appre- 
ciated, a  glimpse  of  their  life  in  Finland  is  essential. 

ORIGIN 

The  history  of  the  Finns  is  wrapped  in  romantic  mystery.    Theories  as 
to  their  place  of  origin  and  their  wanderings  are  abundant.    That  they  are 

16  Hannes  Gebhard:  Co-operation  in  Finland,  London,  1916. 


36  THE    FINN   IN    AMEBICA 

*       1 

of  Asiatic  origin  has  been  very  generally  held.    Keane  says,  "Many  of  the 

European  Finns,  and  especially  the  Baltic  group,  have  undoubtedly  been 
largely  assimilated  to  the  surrounding  populations,  although  even  these 
^  retain  certain  physical  and  mental  characters,  such  as  peaky  eyes,  some- 
what flat  face,  round  head,  dull  sullen  temperament,  which,  combined  with 
their  pure  Ural-Altaic  speech,  betray  their  primordial  Mongol\  affinities. '  '17 
It  is  however  rather  with  Turanian  peoples  that  affinities  may  be  found. 
The  case  is  stated  by  Haddon18  who  assigns  to  the  Finno-Ugrian  stock  a 
home  about  the  headwaters  of  the  Yenisei.  The  Finnish  branch  wandered 
across  the  Urals,  the  true  Finns  ultimately  proceeding  up  the  Volga  into 
what  is  now  Finland.  But  this  view  of  the  Asiatic  origin  of  the  Finns  is 
not  universally  held.  Ripley  claims  for  them  a  Nordic  origin  on  anthropo- 
logical grounds.19  What  seems  to  be  near  the  truth  of  the  matter  is 
suggested  by  Dominian20  who  states  that  while  the  culture  is  Asiatic  the 
Finns  are  racially  alblend  of  Nordic  and  Asiatic.  Recent  anthropometrical 
work  points  to  a  diversity  of  origin.  The  Finns  were  formerly  described 
as  a  brachycephalic  people,  a  feature  in  agreement  with  their  supposed 
Turanian  origin.  Actually  both  dolichocephalic  and  brachycephalic  forms 
are  found,  in  proportions  varying  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 

The  principal  recent  work  has  been  done  by  Dr.  F.  W.  Westerlund, 
who  with  the  assistance  of  others  took  the  head  measurements  of  131,697 
men  of  about  21  years  of  age.21  His  work  has  been  summarized  by  another 
Finnish  authority22  who  gives  the  following  figures :  In  southwestern  Fin- 
land 55  to  58  per  cent  are  dolichocephalic;  in  some  parts  of  southern 
Finland  as  many  as  70  per  cent;  in  western  Finland  65  per  cent  are 
dolichocephalic.  In  central  Finland  only  40  per  cent  are  in  this  class.  In 
eastern  and  northern  Finland  73  to  88  per  cent  are  brachycephalic.  It  is 
from  the  latter  region  that  most  of  the  Finns  in  America  come ;  from  whom 
we  derive  our  impressions  with  regard  to  the  whole  of  Finland. 

MYTHOLOGY;  NATURE  WORSHIP 

Something  more  of  the  lives  of  the  early  Finns  is  related  in  their 
mythology.  That  they  have  always  been  nature  worshippers  is  evident 
throughout  their  literature.  "The  ancient  Finns  were  worshippers  of  the 
sun  and  of  fire;  they  were  highly  superstitious  and  had  faith  in  miracles 
and  magic,  .  .  .  Their  supreme  God  was  Ukko,  the  God  of  Thunder,  who 
lived  in  the  clouds  and  who  ruled  human  destiny."23  They  worshipped 

!?  A.  H.  Keane:  Ethnology,  University  Press,  Cambridge,  1896,  p.  305. 

18  A.  C.  Haddon:  The  Wanderings  of  Peoples,  University  Press,  Cambridge,  1912,  pp.  18,  19. 

19  W.  Z.  Ripley :  The  Races  of  Europe,  New  impression,  New  York,  1915,  p.  365. 

20  Leon  Dominian:  Frontiers  of  Language  and  Nationality  in  Europe.  New  York,  1917,  p.  102. 

21  See  also  the  work  cited  in  footnote  9,  Vol.  2  of  text,  p.  56  of  Ch.  "  Statistique  demographique." 
See  also  the  cartogram  showing  proportional  distribution  of  forms. 

22  J.  J.  Mikkola:  "Suomen  kansa  antropologisessa  suhteessa,"  in  Vol   1  of  Oma  Maa,  6  vols.,  Porvoo, 
Finland,  1907.    This  work  is  an  encyclopedia  of  Finland.    The  statements  in  the  text  were  summarized 
from  the  above  article  and  were  translated  from  the  Finnish  by  Dr.  K.  V.  Arminen  of  Duluth. 

23  George  Renwick:  Finland  Today,  New  York,  1911. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA  17 

Tapio,  God  of  the  Forest ;  Ahti,  Ruler  of  the  Waters ;  and  Tuoni,  Lord  of 
the  Nether  Worlds.  The  sons  and  daughters  of  these  gods  were  the  gods 
and  goddesses  respectively  of  the  sun,  moon,  stars,  fire,  and  air.  "In  the 
Finnish  mythology,  the  air  and  meteorological  phenomena  occupy  the  fore- 
most place  among  the  manifestations  of  the  Divine."24  The  modern  Finns 
still  exhibit  an  intense  love  for  and  devotion  to  the  open  air.  No  weather 
seems  too  severe,  no  land  too  poor  to  prevent  their  deriving  from  it  some- 
thing well  worth  while. 

The  very  names  of  the  Finnish  people  are  based  upon  natural  features. 
A  short  list  of  the  most  common  names  with  their  English  meaning  is 
worth  giving:  Lahti,  "bay";  Koski,  "waterfall";  Vuori,  "mountain"; 
Harju,  "ridge";  Hirvi,  "moose";  Korpi,  "swampy  woodland";  Jarvi, 
"lake";  Nurmi,  "pasture";  Joki,  "river";  Niemi,  "cape";  Saari, 
"island";  Koivo,  "birch";  Kangas,  "moor";  Hirsi,  "timber";  Kantola, 
"stump  land."  These  names  occur  as  frequently  among  the  Finns  as 
' '  Smith ' '  and  ' '  Jones ' '  among  Americans.  Some  estimates  give  60  per  cent 
as  the  proportion  of  Finnish  names  based  upon  topographic  features. 

Music 

The  music  of  the  Finns  reflects  their  environment.  It  is  written  largely 
in  the  minor  key.  Sadness,  seriousness  of  life's  struggles,  vain  hope,  and 
work,  work,  work,  are  the  words  and  expressions  that  pass  through  one's 
mind  as  one  listens  to  their  melodies.  Some  of  their  folk  songs,  however, 
are  quite  cheerful.  One  is  reminded  of  rapids  and  waterfalls  separated 
by  quiet  reaches.  The  song  is  quite  different  from  the  heavily  accented 
folk  song  of  the  Slavic  peoples  of  southern  Europe.  It  seems  to  be  very 
decidedly  influenced  by  the  presence  of  the  numerous  swiftly-flowing 
streams  of  Finland. 

THE  KALEVALA 

One  of  the  most  interesting  expressions  of  Finnish  life  is  the  great 
Finnish  epic,  the  Kalevala,25  a  dramatic  record  of  the  struggle  for  existence 
that  has  ever  confronted  the  Finns.  In  Finland  it  is  studied  in  the  schools. 
and  in  this  country  dramatized  selections  from  it  are  presented  on  gala 
occasions. 

The  Kalevala  is  a  splendid  record  of  the  response  of  a  people  to  their 
geographic  environment.  A  complete  analysis  of  it  is  not  possible  here. 
Yet  some  extracts  must  be  cited,  for  modern  Finnish  agriculture  and 
respect  for  nature's  gift  to  mankind  could  not  be  fully  appreciated  without 
a  little  reflection  upon  some  of  the  verses  of  Finland's  wonderful  epic. 

It  was  common  in  early  times,  and  in  fact  to  within  the  last  twenty-five 
years,  for  the  farmer  to  burn  over  the  land  that  its  fertility  might  be 
increased.  Experience  and  scientific  investigation  have  shown  this  proced- 

*•  J.  C.  Brown:  People  of  Finland  in  Archaic  Times.  London,  1892. 
25  Accented  on  the  first  syllable. 


38  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

ure  to  be  very  unwise,  for  the  land  loses  its  fertility  very  rapidly  three  to 
four  years  after  the  burning.  In  the  Kalevala  reference  is  made  to  the 
burning  of  the  forest  that  the  ashes  may  enrich  the  soil : 

"Hark!   the  titmouse  wildly  crying, 
From  the  aspen,  words  as  follows: 
'Osma's  barley  will  not  flourish, 
Not  the  barley  of  Wainola, 
If  the  soil  be  not  made  ready, 
If  the  forest  be  not  leveled, 
And  the  branches  burned  to  ashes.'  "26 

A  familiar  picture  of  the  Finnish  landscape  is  given  in  the  farewell 
song  of  Pohyola,  daughter  of  the  Rainbow : 

"Send  to  all  my  farewell  greetings, 
To  the  fields,  and  groves,  and  berries; 
Greet  the  meadows  with  their  daisies, 
Greet  the  borders  with  their  fences, 
Greet  the  lakelets  with  their  islands, 
Greet  the  streams  with  trout  disporting, 
Greet  the  hills  with  stately  pine  trees, 
And  the  valleys  with  their  birches. 
Fare  ye  well,  ye  streams  and  lakelets, 
Fertile  fields  and  shores  of  ocean, 
All  ye  aspens  on  the  mountains, 
All  ye  lindens   of  the  valleys, 
All  ye  beautiful  stone  lindens, 
All  ye  shade  trees  by  the  cottage, 
All  ye  junipers  and  willows, 
All  ye  shrubs  with  berries  laden, 
Waving  grass  and  fields  of  barley, 
Arms  of  elms,  and  oaks,  and  alders, 
Fare  ye  well,  dear  scenes  of  childhood, 
Happiness   of   days   departed.  "27 

Among  the  many  favorite  trees  of  the  Finns,  the  graceful  white-trunked 
birch  is  most  admired,  indeed  one  might  almost  say  it  is  revered.  Even  in 
northeastern  Minnesota  the  Finn  will  stop  before  a  beautiful  group  of 
nodding  birches  to  admire  the  clean  white  dress  of  bark  and  the  spreading 
branches  that  seem  to  bid  him  welcome.  The  Kalevala  makes  clear  why  his 
love  for  the  birch  is  so  enduring.  The  tree  speaks : 

"   ...  I,  alas!    a  helpless  birch  tree, 
Dread  the  changing  of  the  seasons, 
I  must  give  my  bark  to  others, 
Lose  my  leaves  and  silken  tassels. 
Often  come  the  Suomi  children, 
Peel  my  bark  and  drink  my  lifeblood; 
Wicked  shepherds  in  the  summer, 

26  Kalevala:  Epic  Poem  of  Finland,  translated  by  J.  M.  Crawford,  Cincinnati,  1888;  passage  from 
Rune  II,  "  Wainomoinen's  Sowing." 

27  Ibid.,  Rune  XXIV.  "  The  Bride's  Farewell." 


THE    FIXX    IX    AMEEICA  19 

Come  and  steal  my  belt  of  silver, 
Of  my  bark  make  berry  baskets, 
Dishes  make,  and  cups  for  drinking. 
Oftentimes  the  Northland  maidens 
Cut  my  tender  limbs  for  birch  brooms, 
Bind  my  twigs  and  silver  tassels 
Into  brooms  to  sweep  their  cabins; 
Often  have  the  Northland  heroes 
Chopped  me  into  chips  for  burning; 
Three  times  in  the  summer  season, 
In  the  pleasant  days  of  springtime, 
Foresters  have  ground  their  axes 
On  my  silver  trunk  and  branches, 
Eobbed  me  of  my  life  for  ages."28 

THE  FINNS  TODAY 

The  Finns  have  struggled  against  titanic  handicaps  of  physical  circum- 
stance. With  the  country  a  vast  region  of  lake  and  morass,  with  only 
diminutive  areas  here  and  there  suitable  for  cultivation  without  the  neces- 
sity of  drainage,  with  lowland  pockets  in  which  cold  air  may  collect  to 
cause  premature  frosts  and  destroy  in  a  night  that  which  represents  the 
labor  of  months;  with  few  raw  materials  for  the  manufacture  of  articles 
that  might  aid  in  the  maintenance  of  prosperity;  with  no  surplus  of  food 
for  storage  over  periods  of  scarcity;  with  all  these  factors  to  obstruct  their 
way,  they  nevertheless  have  risen  among  the  peoples  of  the  earth  to  a 
position  which  many  might  well  envy.  "One  can  not  but  be  impressed 
with  the  industry  and  pluck  of  this  valiant  little  people,  and  feel  in 
sympathy  with  the  Finnish  economists  who  see  in  the  geographical  location 
and  the  magnificent  water  power  of  their  country  the  basis  for  a  great 
development  in  the  future."29  But  meanwhile  growing  political  oppres- 
sion has  added  a  final  weight  of  adversity  and  many  Finns,  giving  up  hope 
of  bettering  their  condition  in  Finland,  have  sought  freedom  and  oppor- 
tunity in  the  United  States. 


The  Finns  in  Northeastern  Minnesota   (St.  Louis  County) 

Yet  man  is  the  creature  of  his  native  environment  however  ungrateful 
it  may  be.  Its  strong  hold  is  exemplified  here:  given  freedom  and  land 
the  Finn  in  the  United  States  will  select  an  environment  that  reminds  him 
of  the  home  of  his  fathers.  From  what  has  been  depicted  thus  far  we 
are  led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  attraction  of  the  Finn  to  northeastern 
Minnesota  has  a  geographical  basis.  It  remains  to  offer  direct  evidence  in 
confirmation. 

28Kalevala:  Epic  Poem  of  Finland,  translated  by  J.  M.  Crawford,  Cincinnati,  1888;  passage  from 
Rune  XLIV,  "Birth  of  the  Second  Harp." 

29  \V.  E.  Lingelbach :  Geography  in  Russian  History,  Popular  Science  Monthly,  Vol.  86,  1915,  pp.  5-24. 


20 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 


INTERVIEWS  WITH  REPRESENTATIVE  FINNS 

Sixty  Finns,  many  of  them  heads  of  families,  representing  various 
walks  of  life,  have  been  interviewed  by  the  writer.  Some  of  these  people 
were  in  a  position  to  speak  for  hundreds  of  others  and  therefore  their 


MINNESOTA 
DISTRIBUTION  OF  FINNS 
IN  RELATION  TO  FOREST  TYPE 


Counties  with  300 
or  more  Finns 


FIG.  12— Correspondence  of  Finns  and  the  coniferous  and  birch  forest.    New  York  Mills  accounts  for 
most  of  the  Finns  in  the  county  in  which  it  is  situated.   Scale  1 : 5,100,000. 

statements  are  representative  of  large  numbers.  Further,  employers  of 
from  just  a  few  Finns  to  upwards  of  1,500  have  been  interviewed.  The 
discussion  that  follows  is  a  summary  of  the  many  opinions  expressed  by  both 
Finns  and  non-Finns,  and  may  be  accepted  as  unquestionably  reflecting 
reliable  and  accurate  points  of  view. 

With  no  more  than  ten  exceptions,  everyone  interviewed  volunteered 
unqualifiedly  some  geographic  element  as  the  principal  reason  for  either 


THE    FINN    IN    AMEKICA  21 

the  establishment  of  Finnish  colonies  in  northeastern  Minnesota,  or  for 
their  persistence  in  spite  of  the  adverse  living  conditions.  Climate  ranks 
first  among  all  the  reasons  assigned.  Of  42  interviews,  30  indicated 
climate  as  the  prime  cause  for  settlement  in  the  northern  United  States, 
instead  of  central  or  southern,  and  12  asserted  that  friends  were  the 
influencing  factor.  Of  these  12,  all  but  2  stated  as  their  reason  for  remain- 
ing in  northeastern  Minnesota  the  similarity  of  the  country  to  their  home- 
land, both  in  general  appearance  and  in  climate.  Again,  emphasis  is  laid 
upon  the  fact  that  these  42  interviews  are  representative  of  the  opinions 
of  thousands  of  Finns.  A  few  quotations  will  be  significant.  These  are 
in  reply  to  such  questions  as  "Why  did  you  come  to  St.  Louis  County?" 
' '  After  your  arrival  and  your  observation  of  the  rather  unpromising  condi- 
tions, why  did  you  not  go  further  south  or  return  home?"  "Why  have 
you  remained  in  these  parts  so  long,  when  you  have  known  of  opportunities 
elsewhere  ? ' ' 

A  clerk  in  charge  of  a  Finnish  co-operative  store  in  a  township  popu- 
lated by  59  Finns  and  their  families  replies:  "The  climate  is  similar  to 
that  in  Finland.  The  winters  here  are  somewhat  less  severe ;  the  summers 
are  a. little  warmer,  but  the  days  are  shorter  than  in  Finland."  A  student 
and  school-teacher  who  has  been  in  this  country  for  ten  years  and  has 
experienced  the  struggle  for  existence  says:  "Some  came  to  work  in  the 
mines  to  make  money,  as  my  brother  did,  intending  to  return.  But,  like 
others,  after  a  few  years  he  quit  the  mine  and  began  farming,  his  natural 
occupation.  The  similarity  of  this  north  country  to  Finland  caused  those 
who  came  before  me  to  become  enthusiastic  and  to  send  for  their  friends 
and  relatives. ' '  According  to  the  County  School  Supervisor  of  Agriculture, 
a  Finn  whose  father  claims  to  be  one  of  the  first  two  Finnish  settlers  in 
St.  Louis  County,  "even  now  they  [Finns]  will  buy  land  here  in  preference 
to  taking  up  homesteads  elsewhere  even  when  conditions  for  farming  are 
easier."  A  Finnish  farmer  of  long  residence,  well  acquainted  with  farm- 
ing conditions  in  other  regions,  states :  ' '  Hearing  of  greater  opportunities  to 
make  money  elsewhere  the  Finns  will  not  leave,  for  climate  is  the  attraction 
here."  "The  Finns  don't  know  how  to  choose  land,  for  they  select  the 
stony  and  poorly  drained  lands  seemingly  in  preference  to  the  dry  lands." 
This  is  the  opinion  of  a  Finn  of  many  years  experience  in  St.  Louis  County. 
He  surmised  that  since  their  experiences  in  Finland  had  been  with  such 
poor  land  these  similarly  appearing  areas  "made  them  feel  at  home." 

Many  referred  to  their  love  for  the  deep  snow  and  their  admiration  for 
the  beautiful  glacial  lakes  set  among  the  dense  evergreen  forests.  One 
who  had  seen  much  of  the  United  States  says  that  nowhere  are  the  views 
so  nearly  like  those  in  Finland  as  in  the  vicinity  of  Ely,  in  the  northern 
part  of  St.  Louis  County.  The  myriads  of  lakes,  the  boulder-strewn  inter- 
lake  areas,  the  extensive  woods  of  pines  and  birches  are  "just  like  home." 

Several  attempts  have  been  made  to  colonize  parts  of  the  south  with 


22 


THE    FINN    IN    AMEEICA 


Finns,  but  all  have  failed.  Florida  and  Georgia  were  the  states  in  which 
the  principal  efforts  were  put  forth.  Malaria  played  havoc,  and  the 
remnants  of  each  colony  returned  to  the  north.  Others  have  gone  south 
only  to  find  it  too  warm.  Some  have  traveled  westward  to  try  their  fortunes 

in  a  region  not  so  warm 
as  the  south  but  milder 
than  in  Minnesota;  they 
likewise  have  returned 
to  struggle  with  the  five 
or  six  months  of  a  wet 
spring,  a  cool  summer, 
and  a  bracing  autumn, 
and  six  or  seven  months 
of  a  cold,  snowy,  but  ex- 
hilarating winter. 

Most  of  those  who  have 
gone  west  and  remained 
there  are  engaged  in 
lumbering,  mining,  and 
fishing.  They  have 
migrated  largely  in 
the  path  of  the  first 
two  shifting  industries. 
Many  are  fishermen, 
farmers,  and  some  even 
shipbuilders.  One  of  the 
largest  canneries  on  the 
Columbia  River  is  owned 
by  a  Finnish  co-opera- 
tive company.  Until 
recently  most  of  the 
migrants  have  been 
unmarried  men  and 
women.  The  women  re- 
ceive high  wages  as  housemaids  in  western  homes.  Higher  wages  are 
generally  the  magnet  that  attracts;  but  the  attraction  seems  to  diminish 
in  strength  after  a  year  or  two,  and  the  return  of  the  adventurers  to  north- 
eastern Minnesota  follows  in  due  course. 

Every  attempt  to  get  away  permanently  from  the  Lake  Superior  region 
has  failed.  Thus  it  may  be  stated  unhesitatingly  that  while  non-geographic 
factors  have  played  a  part  in  the  settlement  of  Finns  in  northeastern 
Minnesota,  they  have  been  only  incidental,  and  the  geographic  factors 
have  been  primary.  Clannishness  has  played  its  role  only  in  so  far  as 
it  has  meant  migration  by  groups;  but  the  place  of  settlement  by  the 


FIG.  13— A  contrast:  modern  hay  rake  and  the  ancient  boots. 
These  home-made  boots  are  true  to  type,  representing  the  Finnish 
style  of  a  century  or  more.  The  farmer  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
district  for  17  years.  Floodwood,  Minn. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA  23 

group,  or  the  forerunners  of  a  group,  has  been  determined  by  natural 
influences. 

Since  the  sum  total  of  geographic  conditions  reflect  themselves  in  citizen- 
ship it  is  but  proper  to  turn  the  investigation  toward  the  question  of  the 
Finn  as  a  settler  and  a  citizen. 

THE  FINN  AS  SETTLER  AND  CITIZEN 

Perseverance,  doggedness,  tenacity  of  purpose,  and  endurance  charac- 
terize the  Finn.  These  qualities  oftentimes  develop  into  extreme,!  even 
detrimental  stubbornness.  He  has  a  strong  desire  for  independence,  an 
ambition  to  own  a  bit  of  land  and  to  free  himself  from  all  "bondage." 
His  fondness  for  the  land  is  obviously  the  result  of  the  centuries  of  influ- 
ence of  his  native  environment,  but  his  zeal  for  the  attainment  of  independ- 
ence, to  the  extent  even  of  complete  isolation,  seems  to  have  resulted  from 
the  long  period  of  political  oppression. 

The  Finn  is  frequently  stolid  and  phlegmatic  until  opposed  by  some  one 
or  some  idea  not  to  his  liking,  when  he  becomes  thoroughly  aroused. 
Among  the  lumberjacks  and  miners  this  spirit  has  often  led  to  serious 
disruptions  and  sometimes  even  murder.  However,  it  would  be  an  injustice 
to  the  Finns  as  a  whole  to  imply  that  this  is  as  common  a  characteristic  as 
is  their  attitude  of  suspicion. 

The  Finn's  suspicion,  is  difficult  to  explain.  It  is  a  most  unfortunate 
characteristic.  Either  tribal  raids  of  ancient  times  or  comparative  isolation 
on  the  scattered  farms  of  Finland  is  the  cause.  The  latter  seems  very 
plausible,  for  where  there  is  isolation  and  little  opportunity  for  self  pro- 
tection a  stranger  will  necessarily  be  under  suspicion  until  he  proves  his 
good  will.  However  the  idea  of  fear  is  not  to  be  associated  with  the  Finns, 
for  few  people  are  as  courageous. 

EDUCATIONAL  ASPIRATIONS 

The  Finn  appreciates  the  value  of  education.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
reader.  There  is  said  to  be  less  illiteracy  in  Finland  than  in  any  other 
country.  According  to  the  census  statistics  for  1910  of  persons  of  15  years 
of  age  and  above  only  9  per  1,000  are  illiterate  (unable  to  read).  In 
Minnesota  the  Finn  demonstrates  his  desire  for  mental  growth  by  the 
attendance  of  his  children  in  the  public  schools  and  his  own  attendance  at 
night  school.  "The  Finns  demand  schools  no  matter  how  remote  they 
may  be.  The  daily  attendance  record  of  their  children  is  very  high," 
says  the  St.  Louis  County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  In  a  town  on  the 
Mesabi  Range,  Minnesota,  where  the  Finn  constitutes  only  about  one-tenth 
of  the  total  population,  the  Superintendent  of  Schools  reports  that  "he  is 
the  backbone  of  the  night  school.  Out  of  a  total  attendance  of  900  over 
500  were  Finns."  Figure  14  illustrates  the  type  of  rural  school  which  the 


24  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

Finn  attends.  While  he  is  not  directly  responsible  for  the  modernity  of 
the  structure  and  the  system  of  teaching  which  has  been  developed  within 
it,  he  must  be  credited  with  his  willingness  to  contribute  toward  its  support 
and  toward  the  introduction  of  modern  equipment. 

Further  evidence  of  educational  aspirations  is  furnished  by  the  extent 
of  the  Finnish  press  in  the  United  States.  Including  four  yearbooks,  one 
may  count  29  periodical  publications.  Of  these,  seven  are  Socialistic,  one 
is  an  organ  of  the  I.  W.  W.,  and  the  rest  are  liberal.  The  total  circulation 
of  these  publications  is  as  follows :  Socialist  29,000,  I.  W.  W.  3,500,  liberal 
59,000,  yearbooks  20,000.  This  gives  a  grand  total  of  111,500.  These 


FIG.  14— A  recently  erected  rural  school  house  in  the  French  River  district  of  St.  Louis  County.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  modern  structures  of  its  kind  in  the  country.  Nearly  all  the  pupils  attending  the  school 
are  Finns. 

figures  do  not  all  represent  different  individuals  who  read  these  periodicals, 
for  some  subscribe  to  several  of  them.  A  single  subscription  however  may 
reach  many  individuals:  one  must  take  into  consideration  not  only  the 
several  members  of  a  usually  large  family  but  also  the  fact  that  many 
Finns  live  in  community  houses  (co-operative  hotels)  and  take  advantage 
of  the  co-operative  subscription. 

The  ability  of  so  many  Finns  to  read  may  be  traced  to  the  church,  which 
is  dominantly  Lutheran.  Over  80  per  cent  of  the  Finns  are  Lutheran  (in 
America  probably  only  60  per  cent).  The  church  requires  that  every 
member  be  able  to  read  the  catechism  and  the  Bible.  Some  Finns  have 
ventured  the  opinion  that  the  reading  done  by  the  masses  does  not  go 
beyond  church  literature.  Whatever  truth  there  may  be  in  this,  the  fact 
remains  that  nearly  all  Finns  can  read,  that  quite  as  many  can  write,  and 
that  they  possess  a  keen  appetite  for  learning. 


THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 


25 


HEALTH  AND  HYGIENE 

Strangely,  the  appetite  for  learning  and  the  high  state  of  intelligence 
among  the  Finns  have  not  served  to  improve  all  their  hygienic  environ- 
ment. In  general  all  the  home  and  business  establishments  which  were 
visited  were  immaculately  clean.  This  was  found  to  be  so,  however  humble 


FIG.  15— The  children  in  the  upper  group  have  just  started  school;  they 
cannot  talk  English.  Those  in  the  lower  group  have  been  in  school  little  more 
than  a  year  and  can  talk  English.  Notice  how  readily  these  Finnish  children 
become  assimilated.  Those  in  the  lower  group  seem  to  have  lost  some  of  their 
foreign  features.  (Photo  by  Miss  Betty  Stonerock,  Little  Swan,  Minn.) 

the  home;  but,  with  only  a  few  exceptions,  proper  ventilation  was  lacking. 
This  is  proving  the  death  knell  of  many  a  worthy  Finn,  for  it  is  courting 
successfully  the  spread  of  tubercular  diseases.  Furthermore  the  belief  is 
still  common  among  many  of  the  older  Finns  that  diseases  are  not  contag- 
ious and  that  the  contraction  of  a  disease  is  the  will  of  God.  A  similar 
apathy  towards  ventilation  is  shown  in  the  management  of  their  barns. 
Diseases  among  their  live  stock  are  all  too  common. 


26  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

In  partial  justice  to  this  attitude  toward  ventilation  one  should  note 
carefully  at  least  one  important  responsible  factor.  In  the  north  of 
Finland  it  is  bitterly  cold  in  winter,  and  fuel,  excepting  wood,  is  scarce. 
The  atmosphere  is  humid,  and  the  sensible  temperature  is  therefore  quite 
low.  Under  these  circumstances,  conservation  of  heat  as  a  matter  of  econ- 
omy has  undoubtedly  led  to  the  sealing  of  the  log  cabin  windows  and 
doors.  Isolation  from  medical  help  has  readily  established  credence  in  the 
theory  that  disease  is  not  communicable  and  is  incurable  if  the  Finnish 


FIG.  16— The  Finnish  bathhouse.     The  man  is  holding  a  couple  of  Finnish 
rakes.    Floodwood,  Minn. 

bath  does  not  prove  effective.  The  faith  of  centuries  cannot  be  broken  in 
a  single  generation,  and  failure  on  the  part  of  the  immigrant  to  reform  at 
once  can  be  understood.  The  teaching  of  the  principles  of  hygiene  and 
sanitation  to  the  children,  however,  in  the  magnificent  rural  and  city 
schools  of  the  county  is  proving  an  effective  agency  for  betterment  of  home 
conditions.  The  rising  generation  will  not  have  the  faults  of  the  older 
people. 

THE  BATH 

The  bathhouse  (Fig.  16)  is  the  ''sign  of  the  Finn."  It  is  one  of  the 
first  of  the  many  buildings  to  be  erected  upon  his  farm.  Figure  17  is  a 
photograph  of  a  stove  in  the  bathhouse.  That  the  house  is  dark  is  well 
attested  by  the  picture.  Glacial  boulders  gathered  about  the  farm  are 
piled  up  so  as  to  leave  a  low  ovenlike  space  at  the  base,  extending  well  back 
under  the  rocks.  A  fire  is  built  in  this  stove  and  allowed  to  burn  only  until 


THE    FIXX    IX    AMERICA  27 

heat  has  penetrated  every  stone.  Buckets  of  cold  water  are  then  thrown 
upon  the  stove,  and  a  vast  cloud  of  partially  condensed  steam  fills  the 
small  room.  Occasionally  a  single  special  vent  in  the  roof  allows  the  smoke 
and  the  excess  steam  to  escape.  But  more  often  the  cracks  in  the  walls 
and  ceilings  and  the  space  around  the  door  casement  perform  the  same 
function.  When  the  latter  is  the  case  the  uninitiated  might  suppose  the 
bathhouse  to  be  afire.  The  neighborhood  knows  when  a  Finn  bathes,  for 
the  smoke  and  clouds  issuing  from  all  sides  of  the  bathhouse  are  an  index 


FIG.  17— The  stove  in  the  bathhouse  of  Fig.  16. 

to  what  is  happening  within.  Several  platforms  at  varying  heights  around 
the  room  allow  of  a  certain  adjustment  to  the  degree  of  heat.  The  bather 
beats  himself  with  a  bunch  of  birch  or  aspen  leaves.  After  about  ten  to 
twenty  minutes  in  the  steam  bath  he  retires  to  a  small  adjoining  room 
where  he  dashes  cold  water  upon  himself.  He  then  drys  himself  and  runs 
to  his  house  where  he  dresses.  In  winter  he  may  roll  in  the  snow  before 
returning  to  dress.  For  nearly  all  ailments  the  Finn  applies  one  of  these 
vapor  baths.  His  training  from  childhood  enables  him  to  endure  its 
rigors,  and  hence  the  benefits  he  derives  are  large.  His  faith  in  it  is 
unbounded. 

The  Finnish  bath  introduces  an  element  in  the  survival  of  the  fittest, 
for  babies  are  subjected  to  it.  The  infant  mortality  is  very  high.  Were 
it  not  for  the  anti-ventilation  sentiment  among  so  many  Finns  their  health 
would  undoubtedly  rank  first  among  the  peoples  of  the  earth.  Those  of 
them  who  do  observe  the  modern  principles  are  rarely  ill. 


28  THE    FINN    IN    AMERICA 

Whole  families  very  frequently  bathe  at  the  same  time.  The  house  is 
large  enough  to  accommodate  from  eight  to  ten  people  if  necessary.  Herein 
is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  basic  reasons  for  the  high  moral  plane  of  the 
Finn.  Members  of  both  sexes,  beginning  with  childhood,  are  educated  in 
the  form  of  the  human  body  and,  thereby,  that  ignorance  in  later  life 
which  so  often  accounts  for  sexual  immorality  is  at  once  discounted. 

THE  FINN  AS  A  WORKER 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  excellence  of  the  Finn  as  a  worker.  An 
employer  of  large  numbers  of  Finns  says :  ' '  We  find  that  a  great  many  of 
the  Finns  are  very  good  men  in  every  way;  not  only  are  they  sober  and 
steady,  but  they  remain  at  their  work  for  a  period  of  years.  These  belong 
more  often  to  the  Temperance  class."  The  Temperance  class  consists  of 
the  non-Socialists.  Employers  state  that  about  25  years  ago  the  honesty 
of  the  immigrant  Finn  was  never  to  be  questioned.  Today  this  statement 
does  not  appear  to  be  so  generally  true,  especially  in  the  lumber  camps. 
The  change  has  been  attributed  to  the  spread  of  radical  Socialism'  among 
them. 

POLITICAL  PARTIES 

Politically,  the  Finns  may  be  grouped  into  two  classes,  the  Socialists 
and  the  Temperance  or  Progressive  party.  The  Socialists  are  subdivided 
into  two  classes,  the  Reds  and  the  Yellows.  The  Reds  are  the  more  radical 
and  advocate  force,  if  necessary,  to  accomplish  an  end ;  the  Yellows  oppose 
force  and  foster  legislation  as  the  best  means  for  accomplishing  a  purpose. 
Some  of  the  radicals  have  helped  swell  the  ranks  of  the  I.  W.  W.  Socialism 
is  growing  rapidly,  although  the  Progressive  party  says  the  days  of  the 
Socialists  are  numbered.  The  conservative  Socialists  credit  themselves  with 
all  real  progress  attributed  to  the  Finns.  The  Progressive  class  disagrees, 
crediting  them  only  with  the  organization  of  modern  athletic  clubs  and 
community  opera  houses. 

The  political  aspect  of  the  Socialist  versus  the  Progressive  party  move- 
ment perhaps  should  receive  no  attention  in  a  geographic  discussion.  Yet, 
the  recent  introduction  of  Socialism  has  influenced  these  people  so  strongly 
that  it  cannot  properly  be  passed  without  some  consideration.  The  question 
has  often  been  asked,  "Why  should  the  principles  of  Socialism  have  found 
such  fertile  soil  among  the  Finns  ? ' '  Nearly  40  per  cent  of  the  population 
of  Finland  and  perhaps  25  per  cent  of  Finns  in  America  now  belong  to 
the  Socialist  party.  Most  of  the  latter  are  settled  in  the  mining  districts^ 
Geographic  conditions  may  answer  the  question  in  part  at  least.  The 
struggle  with  a  climate  that  makes  crops  uncertain,  the  tilling  of  a  soil  that 
is  difficult  to  drain,  and  the  relative  isolation  of  the  farm — all  increased  in 
their  severity  by  the  Russian  autocratic  rule — prepare  the  individual  to 
accept  almost  anything  that  savors  of  a  somewhat  easier  life.  In  Minne- 
sota, where  the  Finn  labors  in  a  lumber  camp  hardly  fit  for  human  habita- 


THE    FINN    IN    AMEEICA 


29 


tion,  he  soon  develops  an  antipathy  toward  employers  that  is  not  easy  to 
counteract.  He  then  becomes  a  fit  subject  for  conversion  by  agitators  of 
the  radical  type  and  is  easily  won  over.  In  striking  contrast,  however,  is 
his  attitude  after  he  has  established  himself  upon  the  land  and  has  had 
an  opportunity  to  experience  the  privileges  of  independence,  even  with 
hard  work. 


FIG.  18— Excellent  types  of  Finns:  both  leaders  in  their  fields  of  work.  On  the  left  the  former  Mayor 
of  Eveleth,  Minn.  On  the  right  an  attorney  of  Duluth,  a  man  of  ability  and  a  leader  among  both 
Finns  and  Americans.  He  arrived  in  America  at  the  age  of  5  years. 


DEVELOPMENT  OF  LEADERSHIP 

The  above  statements  might  give  rise  to  erroneous  impressions  relative 
to  the  desirability  of  the  Finn  as  a  citizen.  It  will,  therefore,  be  worth 
while  to  look  at  the  other  side  of  the  shield  and  note  what  sort  of  leader- 
ship has  developed  among  them  (Fig.  18).  The  last  mayor  of  Eveleth, 
Minnesota,  a  city  of  about  8,000  inhabitants,  was  a  Finn.  He  is  a  young 
man  possessed  of  an  aggressive  spirit  and  of  excellent  business  ability. 
He  offers  an  example  that  seems  to  discount  the  common  assertion  that  the 
Finn  has  no  capacity  for  business  affairs.  The  chief  of  detectives  of  Duluth 
stands  as  another  splendid  example  of  young  Finnish  leadership.  The 
medical  field  has  its  quota  of  Finns  who  rank  high,  and  the  legal  profession 
is  worthily  represented.  Many  schoolteachers  in  the  county  are  Finns. 
They  rank  among  the  best  in  the  state,  and  some  have  made  scholarship 


30 

records  in  the  normal  schools  that  might  well  be  envied  by  their  non-Finnish 
classmates. 

Respecting  the  Finn's  place  in  world  civilization  it  is  interesting  to  note 
the  rank  assigned  his  country  in  Huntington's  "Civilization  and  Cli- 
mate."30 Excluding  the  northern  portion,  Finland  is  ranked  "high,"  on 
a  level  nearly  identical  with  that  awarded  the  Northern  Prairie  states. 
Classified  on  the  basis  of  "human  energy,"  Minnesota  is  somewhat  more 
highly  favored;  but  for  southwestern  Finland  the  ranking  still  is  "very 
high."  Accordingly  the  settlement  of  Finns  in  northeastern  Minnesota  is 
perfectly  natural. 

A  GLIMPSE  INTO  THE  FUTURE 

The  Finn  in  Finland  and  the  Finn  in  America  present  both  similar  and 
contrasting  aspects.  These  have  been  discussed  in  the  light  of  geographic 
conditions,  with  only  occasional  digressions  to  give  a  better  background  for 
the  point  of  view.  Now,  in  the  light  of  the  past  and  present,  may  something 
be  ventured  as  to  the  future  ? 

The  similarity  of  topography,  soil,  and  climate  in  Finland  and  north- 
eastern Minnesota,  it  would  seem,  has  been  most  influential  in  the  settlement 
of  Finnish  immigrants  in  that  part  of  the  United  States.  The  region  is 
still  thinly  populated,  and  those  interested  in  its  further  development  are 
encouraging  foreigners  to  settle.  Should  they  seek  Poles,  Bohemians, 
Italians,  Finns,  or  some  other  nationality?  Considering  the  Finn's  virtues 
and  his  defects  and  the  fundamental  facts  of  his  evolution  within  a  well- 
defined  environment,  there  is  no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  the  writer  that  in 
the  Finnish  immigrant  lies  an  assurance  for  the  agricultural  development 
of  northeastern  Minnesota.  All  his  imperfections  are  not  of  his  own  making 
and  can  be  corrected  under  proper  influences.  In  the  main,  his  life,  his 
habits,  and  his  customs  have  been  shaped  by  certain  unmistakable  geographic 
conditions.  These  conditions  are  reproduced  in  northeastern  Minnesota. 
The  region  has  attracted  him  by  reason  of  its  general  physical  resemblance 
to  his  homeland,  and  thus  far  he  has  met  with  a  degree  of  success  in  it 
which  no  other  nationality  has  known.  These  facts  should  be  recognized 
that  they  may  be  made  available  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  part  of  our 
country. 

30  Ellsworth  Huntington:  Civilization  and  Climate.  Yale  University  Press,  New  Haven,  1915;  reference 
on  p.  200. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


IN7ERLIBRARY  LC 


ANS 

L 


DUE  TV/0  wJyisPFRWoA&ia  ^RECEIPT, 


BSCHARGE-URC 

SEP  11 


Form  L9-50m-4,'61(B8994s4)444 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRA 


